The Point.fr – Published on 19/11/2013 at 11:40 – Edited on 19/11/2013 at 14:25
For the association of consumers, operators maintain a 3G degraded to encourage the transition to 4G, more expensive. But all is not clear.
On the same topic
Two weeks after pinned quality next generation mobile (4G) networks, the UFC-Que Choisir shall provide a layer with 3G. In the line of sight of the consumer association, the new operator Free Mobile is the worst student. Exasperated, the troublemaker we announced Tuesday its intention to take legal action. “The UFC seems to regret the quiet time of the oligopoly” of the three incumbent mobile operators, Free Mobile told us Tuesday morning. “Free will take legal action against UFC which, relying again on a partial and biased study with a highly questionable methodology that ignores the reality of use, attempts to enhance its reputation at the expense of Free”, continued the operator. Already in the publication of the previous study of the UFC on 3G, in January 2013, Free was last in the standings. The association had filed a complaint against the operator for “deceptive trade practices”.
During his press conference Tuesday morning, the UFC has attacked all French operators. They are accused of deliberately maintaining a 3G degraded to encourage customers to subscribe 4G packages, plus swift but also more expensive. “We fear a forced transhumance consumers to 4G,” said Alain Bazot, UFC President. The concerns of the UFC are based on the results of its study on the quality of published Tuesday morning networks and conducted in October by an external provider. More than 3000 measurements were made in four areas: Ile-de-France, Lille, Toulouse and Grenoble
.
Free pointed
result the rate of non-quality, that is to say where the client can not use his smartphone satisfactorily, are increasing. Services tested (. YouTube, Dailymotion, Deezer, France Pluzz TV, etc.) have analyzed three criteria: access, time and reading fluency. “The conclusion is clear, yet says Alain Bazot, we are in the presence of three to four operators in a decline in the quality of service.” SFR degradation is “not very strong”, then it is “a little more significant” in Orange. As for Free, the damage is “spectacular” after the UFC. Bouygues one is spared.
For Free, the UFC has chosen to differentiate between measurements made on the network “clean”, that is to say one that has made Free, measurements made roaming that is to say, when customers use Free partner network Orange. “We are seeing a particularly sharp deterioration in the quality of the own network of Free, red lantern operators of video services,” said Antoine Autier, in charge of new technologies in the UFC, however, that welcomes the “strong improvement Free roaming. “
Degrade 3G to enhance 4G?
That does not explain why the measures are far worse on the network via Free Orange, on the Orange network for its customers … Those who think that flange Free roaming to save money on their bill from Orange can only be comforted by these figures. Free Mobile for customers, “the future is through the own network”, which will take precedence over the roaming contract As the deployment of network Free Mobile. That does not reassure the UFC as “Free will cover 75% of the French population on 1 January 2015,” the association feared that “reaches technically” this goal, without providing acceptable quality of service .
On the whole market, “the tendency to degradation let us fear a strategic choice of operators, if it is proven wrong,” said Alain Bazot. “They will do anything to force consumers to transhumance to 4G, and the value there is no better way than to degrade the 3G,” he continues. The UFC also notes that Bouygues’ H +, the fastest version of 3G, just disappeared new offerings at constant prices. ” “This leads to an artificial recovery and caused 4G” ton UFC, who seized the telecoms watchdog, ARCEP.
An app to help the UFC
operators focus their response on the low point of the UFC: The methodology of the study. Several issues remain unclear, and several choices are questionable. “It makes absolutely no sense to pay to Orange will degrade the quality of its network whatsoever,” said Orange, who recalls that “invests in all its networks to serve all its customers.” “ARCEP has established a long-standing annual device measures considered reliable by the profession: steps out of this protocol we seem to create more confusion than anything else,” Orange
ton.
To proceed further control of mobile networks, the UFC launches an application, “Network News”, designed to collect information on the quality of communication directly to consumers. It invites all owners of smartphones to install to “be part of the participatory approach.” A promising project that could finally bring more representative than ARCEP and the UFC, whose studies focus on measures only a few thousand results. But it will require the operation of the application is perfectly transparent and flawless.
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